System for preventing sludge formation in a cooling tower reservoir

ABSTRACT

A number of parallel spaced pipe sections are disposed in overlying adjacent relation to a reservoir base. Apertures are formed along the length of each pipe section at an acute angular relation with the horizontal. Fluid from the reservoir is pumped through the pipe sections so as to produce jets that exit from the apertures. These jets impinge upon the reservoir base and cause agitation of the liquid stored in the reservoir. This agitation inhibits propagation of organisms which produce sludge.

United States Patent James II. DeLoach 1604 E. 34th St., Savannah, Ga.31404 13,646

Feb. 24, 1970 Oct. 5, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented SYSTEM FORPREVENTING SLUDGE FORMATION IN A COOLING TOWER RESERVOIR 1 Claim, 4Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1 210/167, 134/198, 239/112 Int. Cl B0ld 35/02 Field of Search210/64, 57, 167,60; 239/112,557; 134/198, 200,171

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,565,863 12/1925 Murphy 239/1122,167,466 7/1939 Shawhan et a1 210/167 X 3,126,427 3/1964 Broughton210/57 X 3,165,466 1/1965 Vautrain et a1. 210/114 3,497,453 2/l970Yurdin 210/60 X 2,262,767 11/1941 Jeter 134/198 X PrimaryExaminer-Michael Rogers AnarneysClarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B.Jacobson ABSTRACT: A number of parallel spaced pipe sections aredisposed in overlying adjacent relation to a reservoir base. Aperturesare formed along the length of each pipe section at an acute angularrelation with the horizontal. Fluid from the reservoir is pumped throughthe pipe sections so as to produce jets that exit from the apertures.These jets impinge upon the reservoir base and cause agitation of theliquid stored in the reservoir. This agitation inhibits propagation oforganisms which produce sludge.

PATENTED UET 5 1971 James H. DeLaach I N V NTOR.

SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING SLUDGE FORMATION IN A COOLING TOWER RESERVOIR vThe present relates to fluid circulation systems and more particularlyto a reservoir-mounted system having apertured pipe sections thatproduce fluid jets capable of agitating the reservoir contents.

At the present time, in systems, such as refrigeration orairconditioning systems, which utilize circulating fluid, sludge andalgae fonnations hamper efficient operation and require periodic plantshutdown. It has been found that the sludge and algae formed in suchsystems is principally produced by the growth and propagation oforganisms, with such growth, after a period of operation, causingcondensers and conduit sections to clog.

The present invention is directed to a circulating system which agitatesthe contents of a reservoir thereby inhibiting the propagation of algaeand sludge-producing organisms which develop best in relatively calmfluid. By virtue of the present invention, plant shutdown due to algaeand sludge formation is eliminated and the time-consuming and costlyprocess of cleaning the reservoir and refrigeration or air-conditioningsystem components is eliminated. The presently disclosed device keepsthe entire cooling system clean at all times. The present invention isadaptable to any cooling system provided with a reservoir whererecirculating fluid, usually water, is used.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view illustrating the disposition of the presentinvention in a cooling system tower reservoir.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along a plane passingthrough section line 2-2 in FIG. 1. This view illustrates the crosssection of a jet-producing pipe section.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a plane passingthrough section line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and illustrates an end section of apipe section such as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along a plane passing throughsection line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and illustrates a strainer at the output portof the reservoir.

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical reservoir in a cooling system isindicated by reference numeral 10. Usually, this reservoir forms thebase of a cooling tower 12. An outlet port 14 is formed in a transversewall of the reservoir and allows insertion of an outlet pipe 16 whichforms a conduit to the inlet of a centrifugal pump 18. An outlet pipe 20is connected between the outlet of pump 18 and a can-type line strainer22. The outlet of the strainer 22 is connected to pipe 24 thatcommunicates with a discharge manifold 26 via a flow-regulating valve28. The manifold 26 is disposed in parallel spaced relation to a lateralwall 30 of the reservoir and a series of horizontally aligned and spacedapertures 32 are formed in the lateral wall 30. Pipe sections 34 passthrough respective apertures 32 and connecting pipes 36 effectcommunication between the pipe sections 34 and T-connectors 38 which areconnected in line with the discharge manifold 26. At the end of eachpipe section is a cap 35, which serves as a spacer for the pipe sections34. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the cap 35 allows thepipe section 34 to be disposed in adjacent slightly spaced relation tothe base of the reservoir 10. The outward end of the discharge manifold26 is normally capped, as at 40, so that fluid pumped into the dischargemanifold by pump 18 is forced into the spaced pipe sections 34.

As clearly indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each pipe section 34 includes anumber of longitudinally spaced aperture sets 42 and 44 formed with theapertures in transverse alignment with one another and at an acuteangular relation with respect to the horizontal. Preferably, theseapertures are formed at 45 with respect to the horizontal. Theseapertures produce discharging fluid jets as fluid is pumped into thepipe sections.

By virtue of the angular relation of the apertures 42 and 44, the jetsimpinge upon the base of reservoir 10 and constantly agitate or churnthe reservoir contents so as to prevent settling. This constantagitation inhibits the formation of organisms such as algae. In additionto the apertures 42 and 44 along the pipe section, the end cap 35 ofeach pipe section includes an axial aperture 45 for allowing constantdischarge of fluid through the end of the pipe section so as to preventtrash or sludge from collecting at the cap end.

'lno'rder to provide straining filtration of the fluid circulatingbetween the reservoir and the pipe sections, a strainer 46 is positionedadjacent the outlet port 14 and causes straining of the fluid flowingfrom the reservoir into the outlet pipe or conduit 16. The strainer 46is preferably of the removable type so that it can be periodicallyreplaced or cleaned.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the in-line strainer 22includes means connected thereto for draining the strainer so that thestrainer may be cleaned without its removal from the system and withoutrequiring system shutdown. Toward these ends, a pipe section 48 isconnected in communicating relation with the bottom of the strainer 22and serves to allow drainage of waste material from the strainer.Normally, a bleedoff line 50 is connected in communicating relation withthe pipe 48 via a T-connector 52. A flow-inhibiting valve 54 is mountedin the line 50 so that a relatively slow and inhibited flow of wastematerial is obtained through the line 50. The bleedoff line 50 should beso positioned above the desired water level in the reservoir 10 so thatthe reservoir will not be drained by a siphoning action through thebleedoff line. Occasionally, it is desirable to flush the strainer 22 sothat waste or sludge material that has not been removed through normaldraining through line 50 can be removed. Toward this end, a flushingpipe 56 is connected to T-connector 52 and when a valve 58 on theflushing pipe 56 is opened, forced flushing of the strainer 22 will beachieved. During the flushing process, it is preferable to shut valve 28in line with the discharge manifold 26.

A simplified variation of the system can be effected by eliminating linestrainer 22 and the draining and flushing pipes 50 and 56 connectedthereto. Instead of these components, the end cap 40 at the outward endof the discharge manifold 26 can be replaced by a fitting for attachinga bleedoff pipe 60 through an in-line valve 62. By properly adjustingvalve 62, a portion of the fluid flowing through the discharge manifold26 can be bled from the manifold. The bled fluid could be filtered orstrained by an auxiliary strainer (not shown) and returned to thereservoir 10. Alternately, the bled fluid can be disposed of andreplaced with fresh fluid.

In operation of the present invention, the jet-producing pipe sections34 agitate the liquid in the reservoir and keep particu late matter andorganisms in suspension and motion. The suspended matter continuallyundergoes straining, with bleedofi' means removing sludge from therecirculated fluid. By adjusting the bleedoff valve, the desiredconcentration of solids in the reservoir liquid can be maintained. Thiskeeps the reservoir free of excess sludge and saves considerable time inmaintaining the cooling system which the reservoir is related to in aclean condition. I

Typically, the circulating pump 18 and piping connected to the systemshould have the capacity to circulate 8 to 10 percent, in gallons perminute, of the volume in gallons of the reservoir. Also, a typicaldischarge pressure of the pump 18 is in the order of 15 to 20 pounds persquare inch. The described system is typically operative for a 500galloncooling tower reservoir but is adaptable to any size.

The present system is self-contained and intended to recirculatereservoir water on a continual basis thereby agitating or stirring thecontents on warm days, weekends. warm nights and during other periodswhen the cooling system would not normally be in 'use. By virtue of thiscontinual agitation, growth and propagation of algae and othersludge-producing organisms is inhibited.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An apparatus for preventing sludge formation in a reservoircomprising a plurality of pipe sections disposed adjacent the reservoirbase, a plurality of radial apertures formed in each of said pipesections along the lengths thereof in acute angular relation to thehorizontal for directing fluid jets against the reservoir base therebyagitating the reservoir contents and preventing sludge formation, a pipecap on the end of each of said plurality of pipe sections having anopening therein to continually prevent material accumulation in the endportion of each of said plurality of pipe sections, a pump having aninlet and outlet, first conduit means connecting the outlet of said pumpwith said plurality of pipe sections, second conduit means extendingfrom the reservoir to the inlet of said pump, first straining meansadjacent said second conduit means at the reservoir end thereof forstraining liquid before it enters said pump, said first conduit meansincluding a second straining means for straining liquid dischargethrough the outlet of said pump, means for bleeding off filteredmaterials from said second straining means while said pump and saidsecond straining means are operating to provide a relatively slow,continuous drainage to waste, and positive drainage means connected tosaid second straining means for rapidly cleaning said second strainingmeans during operation of said second straining means and said pump.

1. An apparatus for preventing sludge formation in a reservoircomprising a plurality of pipe sections disposed adjacent the reservoirbase, a plurality of radial apertures formed in each of said pipesections along the lengths thereof in acute angular relation to thehorizontal for directing fluid jets against the reservoir base therebyagitating the reservoir contents and preventing sludge formation, a pipecap on the end of each of said plurality of pipe sections having anopening therein to continually prevent material accumulation in the endportion of each of said plurality of pipe sections, a pump having aninlet and outlet, first conduit means connecting the outlet of said pumpwith said plurality of pipe sections, second conduit means extendingfrom the reservoir to the inlet of said pump, first straining meansadjacent said second conduit means at the reservoir end thereof forstraining liquid before it enters said pump, said first conduit meansincluding a second straining means for straining liquid dischargethrough the outlet of said pump, means for bleeding off filteredmaterials from said second straining means while said pump and saidsecond straining means are operating to provide a relatively slow,continuous drainage to waste, and positive drainage means connected tosaid second straining means for rapidly cleaning said second strainingmeans during operation of said second straining means and said pump.